What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can affect any part of the body, but most commonly affects the lungs

. TB can be fatal if left untreated

. Here are the answers to your questions:What are the causes and risk factors of tuberculosis?
TB is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis

. It spreads from person to person through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or sings

. Anyone can get TB, but some people are at higher risk, including those with weakened immune systems, such as people living with HIV, those with diabetes, and people who smoke

.What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?
The symptoms of TB depend on where in the body the bacteria are growing

. TB usually affects the lungs, and symptoms can include a bad cough that lasts for more than three weeks, pain in the chest, coughing up blood or sputum, fatigue, weight loss, chills, fever, and night sweats

. TB can also affect other parts of the body, and symptoms can include fever, chills, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue

.How is tuberculosis diagnosed?
TB can be diagnosed through a physical exam, a skin test, a blood test, a chest X-ray, and a sputum test

. During a physical exam, your doctor will check your lymph nodes for swelling and use a stethoscope to listen to the sounds your lungs make when you breathe

. The most commonly used diagnostic tool for TB is a skin test, though blood tests are becoming more commonplace

. A small amount of a substance called tuberculin is injected just below the skin on the inside of your forearm

. Imaging tests such as a chest X-ray or a CT scan may be ordered if you've had a positive skin test

. Sputum tests are also used to diagnose TB

.How is tuberculosis treated?
TB can be treated with antibiotics, and the length of treatment depends on the regimen

. Treatment can take 4, 6, or 9 months depending on the regimen

. The most common treatment for active TB is a combination of four drugs: isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and either ethambutol or streptomycin

. For latent TB infection, the most common preventive therapy is a daily dose of the antibiotic isoniazid taken as a single daily pill for six to nine months

. It is important to take the medication exactly as prescribed and to finish the entire course of treatment

. Directly observed therapy (DOT) can help people with TB complete treatment.

Citation:

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/treatment/tbdisease.htm

[2] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11301-tuberculosis

[3] https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/risk.htm

[4] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351256

[5] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351250

[6] https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/treatment/default.htm

[7] https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/signsandsymptoms.htm

[8] https://www.cdc.gov/tb/features/riskfactors/RF_Feature.html

[9] https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm

[10] https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm

[11] https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis/treating-and-managing

[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583136/

[13] https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/testing/diagnosis.htm

[14] https://medlineplus.gov/tuberculosis.html

[15] https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/230802-treatment

[16] https://www.everydayhealth.com/tuberculosis/guide/risk-factors-causes-prevention/

[17] https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis/symptoms-diagnosis

[18] https://www.webmd.com/lung/understanding-tuberculosis-basics

[19] https://www.verywellhealth.com/causes-and-risk-factors-of-tuberculosis-4160458

[20] https://www.everydayhealth.com/tuberculosis/guide/testing/

[21] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuberculosis

[22] http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/tb/cdctbfacts/riskfactors.htm

[23] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tuberculosis-tb/

[24] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis

[25] https://www.nationaljewish.org/conditions/tuberculosis-tb/risk-factors

[26] https://www.who.int/health-topics/tuberculosis

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